SCORE Journal

SCORE-Journal-October-2020

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Can-Am Rules Pro UTV FI It Was A First And Second Place Finish For Can-Am Racers In Pro UTV FI By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo A total of 36 UTV teams descended into San Felipe to compete at the 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts. The largest concentration of teams and racers was within the Pro UTV FI, class, and as such, the competition was as tough as the course itself. 2019 SCORE Baja 500 class winner Craig Scanlon, 2019 SCORE Baja 1000 class winner Justin Lambert, 2019 SCORE Baja 400 class winner Wes Miller, and 2019 SCORE Pro UTV FI Class Champion Wayne Matlock were some of the racers wanting to add this 2020 race to their list of accomplishments, but winning it would not be as easy as those other times. When the racers left the starting line, Matthew Burroughs in the number 2948 Can-Am Maverick X3 worked his way to the top five class leaders. By race mile 350, the team continued to push their own pace, and as the competition in front of them pulled over with mechanical problems, leaving the Can-Am team of Jason and Derek Murray in front of them on the course. As the race progressed, the Murray team pulled over with an issue and Burroughs, with co-drivers Zachary Burroughs, Bradley Howe, Cody Beeson, Mitchell Alsup, and Drew Stanton, found they were in first place. Pushing to the finish they won the class, and because the Pro UTV FI class had the most number of entries than any other class of the entire race, Burroughs earned additional championship points to end up leading the Overall Championship points standings. “We were down in the first section of the course but Mitchell did a killer job in getting us to the top position,” said Bradley Howe. “SCORE did a fantastic job, I’m so happy that they were able to pull it off this month. It’s hot, it was super rough, but all of us racers are incredibly grateful and looking forward to the SCORE Baja 1000 in November.” This was the first Pro UTV FI win for Can-Am in several years and was topped off with a second-place finish, achieved by the performance of brothers Jason and Derek Murray in the 2917 Maverick X3. “We started ninth or tenth off the line, and about a hundred miles into the race, we had the physical lead,” said Derek Murray. “Our vehicle was running awesome, but it was super-hot out there and super rough. We were able to keep our temperatures down, and our Fox Shocks just ate up the whoops and put us up front. Unfortunately, we had some issues shortly after the midway, including a couple of leaky tires and a belt. But it was a great race. Hats off to Matthew Burroughs for the class win, and it’s good to be back here racing. I didn’t think this race was going to happen, so thank you, SCORE.” For Wayne Matlock, he typically wants to start in last place and did so again in this race. He had a nearly perfect race, quickly moving up to the front before the first 200-miles on the course until a severe suspension issue nearly put him out of contention. “We had a problem with our upper-control arm,” said Matlock. “We had to pull over, and I saw my wife (Kristen Matlock, No. 1954) pass me, and she took over the physical lead on the course and kept it to the finish line, so it was a good day for us. We’re just happy to be back racing at the SCORE Baja 500 again.” Matlock spent a lot of time repairing the upper control arm, but to the credit and determination of his team, they made the fix. Matlock got back in and made an incredible push to the finish line completing the race and finishing third in class. Kristen Matlock Takes Overall Pro UTV In an amazing display of driving skill and speed, Kristen Matlock in the number 1954 Polaris RZR, flew past all of the UTV racers in every class on the course to take the overall Pro UTV and Pro UTV NA win. Again, she decided to drive the entire length of the racecourse solo and ultimately relished in a well-deserved victory. “I started at the very back of the class and ended up passing all the UTVs, including my husband (Wayne Matlock, No. 2971),” said Matlock. “The last hundred miles is when I knew I had the overall lead, and I decided to take it a little bit easier. But every time I slow down, it throws me off my rhythm a little bit. So I decided to keep pushing it, but being careful to make sure I could finish.” Finishing second in class was Kaden Wells in the number 1995 Polaris RZR XP 1000 with co-drivers Travis Wells, Rory L’Hommedieu, Corbin Wells, and Michael Wells. Although Wells also had a good race, the second-place finish wasn’t achieved so easily. “We were doing well until race mile 170 when we ended up losing a trailing arm,” said Wells. “Then the shock, axle, and our exhaust fell apart too. We got that all changed, but at race mile 280, we had to change yet another axle. My crew did great. We wouldn’t have been able to have fixed everything without them.” Finishing third in class was Scott Bergen in the number 1911 Polaris RZR XP 1000 with co-driver Greg Row. Pro Stock and Pro Unlimited Classes Finish Strong The Pro Stock and Pro Unlimited classes represent the capabilities of the modern UTV on both ends of the spectrum. The challenge for Pro Stock racers, however, is how long the vehicle withstand the harsh terrain. For past class winners like Mike Cafro in the number 3955 Polaris RZR, he knew how to make his vehicle last through the tough, San Felipe desert and brought Polaris another Pro Stock win at this race with co-driver Adan Leggs. “We had some shock issues right off the bat and also later in the race,” said Cafro. “We ended up changing a lot of shocks, and because of that, we lost a bunch of time. We were hoping to be closer to the overall, but we’re happy to win the class, for sure. We’re happy to put the car at the top of the podium.” Finishing second in class was Torey Rush in the number 3957 Polaris RZR with co-drivers Clint Peterson and Ryan Birdick. Rounding out the class, in third place was Randy Ebmerton in the number 3933 Polaris RZR with co-driver Mark Liening. Within the Pro UTV Unlimited class, Mike Lesle, in the number 1869 Polaris RZR, finished first with co-drivers Dustin Miller and Marshall Lobo. “Dustin did a great job all day, taking the lead around mile 100, and we never lost it,” said Leslie. “Our team that helped me prepare the car did a great job, and we wouldn’t have done it without them. San Felipe is rough, and last year, we had the SCORE Baja 250 here, and in the end, I drove 350 miles. This year I wanted somebody to help me drive, and Dustin did a great job.” Finishing second in class was Elliot Watson with Quintin Tucker and Ben Ward in the number 1893 modified Honda Talon 1000R. “We had a pretty flawless day, and we took on a very conservative pace and kept moving forward,” said Watson. “We had one little mishap in which we had to stop and change a couple of parts, but besides that, the car went great all day. I’m super stoked we made it to the finish line for our first-ever finish in Baja.” SJ Official Finishers PRO UTV FI  (two-seat Forced Induction, OEM engine UTVs) (21 Starters, 12 Finishers) 1. 2948 Matt Burroughs, 51, Norco, CA/Zachary Burroughs, 22, Norco, CA/Bradley Howe, 34 Leona Valley, CA/Cody Beeson, 34, San Clemente, CA/Mitchell Alsup, 30, Bakersfield, CA/Drew Stanton, 22, Ventura, CA, Can-Am X3, 11:07:57 (44.29 mph);  2. 2917 Jason Murray, 37, No. Tustin, CA/Derek Murray, 39, Yorba Linda, CA, Can-Am X3, 11:19:15; 3. 2971 Wayne Matlock, 42, Alpine, CA, Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo, 11:40:11; 4. 2977 Justin Elenburg, 43, Mesa, Ariz./Ernesto Taylor, 32, Mesa, Ariz./Michael York, 50, Gilbert, Ariz., Can-Am X3, 11:45:13;  5. 2940 Erick Korzin, 41, Yorba Linda, CA/Manuel Carazana, 44, Ensenada, Can-Am X3, 12:17:40;  6. 2927 Justin Smith, 49, Wittman, Ariz./Jeff Day, 48, Peoria, Ariz., Can-Am X3, 12:20:15;  7. 2999 Bob Jablonsky, 48, Mesa, Ariz./Jack Torkkola, 60, Mesa, Ariz./Brady Whitlock, Phoenix, Can-Am X3, 14:11:47;  8. 2918 Justin Lambert, 45, Bakersfield, CA/Jesus Navarro, 35, Bakersfield, CA/Victor Herrera, 49, Menefee, CA, Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo S, 14:45:55;  9. 2930 Sean Cook, 54, Twain Harte, CA/Matt Davis, Twain Harte, CA/Brendan Cook, Plymouth, CA/Carlos Diaz, San Diego, Can-Am X3, 15:14:32;  10. 2974 Jorge Cano, 45, Culiacan, MX/Abelardo Ruanova, MX, Can-Am X3 Turbo SRX, 15:29:26;  11. 2978 Jose Juarez, 36, Chula Vista, CA/Rene Gutierrez, 35, Tijuana, MX/Ricardo Canseco, 28, United States/Alex Zuniga, 38, United States/Marco Valenzuela, 32, MX, Can-Am X3, 17:10:14;  12. 2949 Alonso Lopez, 46, Murrieta, CA/Leobardo Gomez/Mario Amezcua/Leobardo Gomez Jr, Polaris RZR Turbo, 18:40:15  PRO UTV NA  (two-seat Normally Aspirated, OEM engine UTVs) (5 Starters, 3 Finishers) 1. 1954 Kristen Matlock, 39, Alpine, CA, Polaris RZR XP4 1000, 10:49:02 (45.58 mph); 2. 1995 Kaden Wells, 21, St. George, Utah/Travis Wells, 49, St. George, Utah/Alonso, 22, Ensenada, MX, MX/Rory L’Hommedieu, 37, Mesquite, Nev./Michael Wells, 33, Idaho Falls, Idaho/Corbin Wells, 21, St. George, Utah, Polaris RZR XP1000, 13:35:30; 3. 1911 Scott Bergen, 39, Ramona, CA/Greg Row, 49, Alpine, CA, Polaris RZR XP1000, 14:21:44  PRO UTV STOCK (Stock UTVs, FI or NA) (4 Starters, 3 Finishers) 1. 3955 Mike Cafro, 50, Fallbrook, CA/Adan Leggs Ibarra, Ensenada, MX/, Polaris RZR Turbo S, 12:23:54 (39.76 mph);  2. 3957 Torey Rush, 30, Gillette, Wyo./Clint Petersen, Gillette, Wyo./Ryan Birdick, Deadwood, S.D., Polaris RZR Turbo S, 13:50:28;  3. 3933 Randy Emberton, 61, El Cajon, CA/Mark Liening, 39, Spring Valley, CA/, Polaris RZR Turbo S, 17:13:39 PRO UTV UNLTD (two-seat unlimited UTV open-displacement) (6 Starters, 2 Finishers) 1. 1869 Mike Lesle, 49, Wildomar, CA/Dustin Miller, 40, Salt Lake City, Utah/Marshall LoBo, 40, Hemet, CA, Polaris XP Turbo, 13:04:45 (37.69 mph);  2. 1893 Eliott Watson, 20, El Centro, CA/Quintin Tucker, 28, Imperial, CA/Ben Ward, 35, Hemet, CA, Honda Talon 1000R, 15:04:12

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